…As Unions Threaten To Shut Down Industry For One Week If…
…Says Govt Unfair To internal Staff
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the three unions in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has given unions in the aviation industry the go ahead to challenge the bringing in of people from outside the agencies to head some positions, despite the fact the affected agencies have capable personnel to man these positions
This is just as JAC also gave tacit support to the aviation unions to also contest certain transfers made the agencies, which workers are not comfortable about.
They also threatened to shut down the aviation industry if these appointments are not reversed
The unions are: the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).
At NCAA headquarters, Aviation House, Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, the regulatory body workers, who turned out massively, gave their support after listening to their labour leaders such as the National President of ATSSSAN, Comrade Ilitrus Ahmadu, General Secretary of NUATE, Comrade Olayinka Abioye, the General Secretary, Comrade Aba Ocheme and other union big wigs such as Comrade Sarah Rindam.
Speaking at the congress, the National President, Comrade Ilitrus Ahmadu told the gathering that he has heard the complaints of workers of both the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAA) and that of NCAA about the recent appointments and transfers, adding that he has also draw the attention of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation to them.
According to him, “A lot of agitations are going on in NCAA and FAAN over the recent appointments and transfers, which the workers are not comfortable with because we have the capacity and capability to occupy the positions that are vacant.
He added that the rule is that to transit from one position to another it must be writing examination(s), wondering why the personnel, who have been occupying these position where not given the opportunity to write exams, prove themselves and be promoted to occupy these position instead of bringing somebody from outside these agencies.
In his words, “I think the system has been unfair to us. If we have people who have been acting in these positions, they should be promoted to occupy the vacant positions. We have internally personnel that can occupy these positions. We have met the permanent Secretary and the Director of Human Resources, Ministry of Aviation on the matter.”
On the pending promotion of staff in both NCAA and FAAN, the ATSSSAN National President disclosed that Ministry has signed that of FAAN, adding that hopefully , NCAA workers will soon receive theirs and whosoever is qualified should be promoted.
Also speaking, the General Secretary of NUATE, Comrade Olayinka Abioye, called on the workers to be ready for the struggle ahead in view of the appointments and transfers that have undermined the efforts of the workers.
He also queried the resolve of the government to bring in external people personnel when there are qualified personnel to take over the vacant positions.
Abioye told the workers that the unions can only succeed if the workers support the struggle 100 per cent, adding that this unfair treatment will only stop if it is collectively challenged.
The General Secretary of NAAPE, Comrade Aba Ocheme advised the government to reverse these appointments and transfers, failing which the unions would be forced to shut down for one week.
He stated that the Federal Government was toying with safety with the current appointments and transfers, adding that with these outsiders in the industry safety of the industry is been threatened.
On her part, the 1st National Vice President, ATSSSAN, Comrade Sarah Rindam ,said that there should be a collective efforts to move the industry forward .
She posited that workers are tired of Ministers of Aviation bringing in people from outside to take various appointments in the agency ignoring the capable internal personnel that abound in the various agencies
According to Rindam,” We don’t want people to come into these agencies and begin to learn the rudiment of the job he or her is employed to do.”
She told workers at the congress that there should be no more pretence and that the battle line has been drawn as far as the recent appointments and transfers are concerned.
